Marine Prints

M. Brown. "This Print of the CELEBRATED VICTORY obtained by the British Fleet under the Command of Earl Howe, over The French Fleet ON THE GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE, 1794." London: Daniel Orme, Oct. 1, 1795. Engraving by D. Orme. 17 x 22 1/2. Some marginal repaired tears and wear, a few light creases in image, but overall condition and impression very good.

A striking and quite scarce engraving showing the British naval victory over the French on the "Glorious First of June, 1794." In early 1793 shortly after the execution of Louis XVI, Revolutionary France declared war on the alliance of the German Empire, Spain, Holland and Great Britain. The first naval battle of the war was fought on June 1, 1794 west of Ushant, off the Brittany Peninsula. A French fleet of 26 warships, under Admiral Louis Villaret de Joyeuse, was escorting a convoy of grain ships across the Atlantic when he was intercepted by a similar British fleet under Admiral, Lord Richard Howe. In this decisive action, six French ships were captured and one was sunk, giving the British a "glorious" victory, despite the fact that the supply ships were able to slip away into the harbor at Brest as the British fleet was too battered to pursue them. The British were quite frightened at the time of the entire Revolutionary movement in France, so the British public was exhilarated by this victory, to the extent that thereafter it was always known as the "Glorious First of June." This excellent engraving is after a painting by M. Brown, "Historical Painter to their R.H. the Duke & Duchess of York," and was engraved and published by Daniel Orme, "Historical Engraver to his Majesty & his R.H. the Prince of Wales." It was issued very shortly after the event and it was a celebration of the victory to be hung in prominent homes in England. $1,200Go to page with prints of naval engagements

After M. Alkin. "Prison Ship Saratoga off Darthmouth." From The United States Military Magazine. Philadelphia: Huddy & Duval, 1840. 7 x 10 (image). Lithograph by A. Hoffy. Print has been professionally conserved. Very good condition. Rare.

The rare and fascinating magazine entitled, The United States Military Magazine and Record of all the Volunteers, together with the Army and Navy, was published in Philadelphia by Huddy & Duval from 1839 to 1841. Volume I dealt with volunteer companies, volume II with the exploits of the United States Army & Navy, and volume III with more volunteers. Issues were sold either colored for $1.00 or plain for 50 cents. One way pictures were obtained and issues sold was, "Any company sending correct sketch of their corps, endorsed by commanding officer, can be inserted in the magazine by taking fifty colored plates at the established price, or one hundred plain. The same privilege is extended to Officers of the Army and Navy, where likenesses are taken. Colored plates 50 cents; plain 25 cents." (From cover of Jan. 1841 issue, quoted in Drepperd, p. 180) $450

A cartoon that seems to involve a British sailor skeptical about joining the Odd Fellows. A man in the center petitions the "Chairman" behind the table to admit "Mr. Benjamin Block of Wapping Old Stairs" to "the Ancient and honourable Society." Block himself, in sailor clothes, says, "Avast my Hearties, - before I've proceeded any further on the voyage let me know what course you are steering - if you mean to frighten a British sailor with your goggle eyes, and queer faces, you are d----dly mistaken - besides it appears to me that you have got masks on which is like fighting under false colours, and that wont do for an English Jack Tar!" $ 350

S. Daniell. "View of the Cape of Good Hope & a South Whaler." From The Naval Chronicle. London: J. Gold, 1804. Aquatint by Thomas Medland. Ca. 4 1/2 x 3 1/2. Very good condition.

Between 1799 and 1818, The Naval Chronicle, was the preeminent maritime journal reporting news about the British navy. Issued twice a year, it was published during a period in which the British navy fought the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812, and came to "rule the waves." This wonderful journal included action reports, intelligence on various matters related to the British and other navies, and biographies of naval officers. Many of the reports were accounts by officers directly involved, such as Lord Horatio Nelson. Included with the articles were portraits, images of naval action, and views of the many ports in which the navy called. These are important, first-hand images of this turbulent period. This image shows a whaling ship in the waters to the south of the Cape of Good Hope, $150Go to page with listing of other prints from The Naval Chronicle.

A beautifully drawn and lithographed print of a Thames sailing barge race. The Thames sailing barges were a commercial boat used on the Thames River during the nineteenth century. They were flat-bottomed and so could float in very shallow water; it was said that they could sail wherever a duck could swim. Their maneuverability and shallow draft made them perfect to work the Thomas and its estuary, though they were used elsewhere around England. Beginning in 1863, a barge owner, Henry Dodd, began an annual race for the barges, for fun, pride, to hone the sailing skills of the sailors, and to encourage improvements in design. Dodd was a plough boy who made a fortune disposing London's waste using the barges; upon his death in 1881 he left £5000 for future match prizes, ensuring the continuation of the races. The matches have been run intermittently since, and they are now considered the world's second oldest sailing race, after the America's Cup. This lovely print shows the fifth annual race, in July 1867. It was drawn, lithographed and published by Josiah Taylor, a well-known marine artist of the period. $1,400

"Awful Conflagration of the Steam Boat Lexington in Long Island Sound." 1840. Lithograph. 6 1/2 x 11 1/2. Close margins, but complete. Very good condition.

The "Awful Conflagration" of the Lexington in Long Island Sound on January 13th, 1840, with its large loss of life, was an event that attracted much attention in New York City and area. This spurred the production of broadsides and lithographed images of the disaster, most famously one by Nathaniel Currier that is supposed to have been one of the foundations of his successful career [click here to see the Currier print]. This was not the only "rush print" made of the burning of the Lexington and here is an unusual and unattributed lithograph of the same scene. The title is similar to the Currier print, but the image is quite different. It was undoubtedly issued within a short time of the event and was aimed at the market created by the public fascination with this famous disaster. $575

A delightful German print extolling ships and navigation. The print shows three types of vessels on a river. In the foreground is a small skiff propelled with an oar. Sailing by is a sailing barge that looks to be a house boat, complete with family of father, mother, child and dog. Beyond that is a steam passenger ferry heading in the opposite direction. The legend "Vorwarts [Onward], 1877" appears on the side of the barge. German verse is given below the image of this charming print. $275

The end of the nineteenth century was a period when the growing moneyed classes were becoming very interested in sporting activities, such as fishing, shooting, riding, and yachting. This was also a period when chromolithography was being used to produce prints that captured the feel, texture and nuances of watercolors. These two developments led to the production of a number of superior portfolios of chromolithographic prints after watercolor drawings of sporting events. This is a rare and impressive series of such prints based on watercolors by Henry Shields, showing yachts on the Clyde. The quality of the printmaking is excellent, and the images well convey the drama and excitement of yachting. $575Go to page with all our Clyde yachting prints.

Frederic S. Cozzens. "The Atlanta, Chicago, Yorktown and Boston." From Our Navy. Its Growth and Achievements. Hartford: American Publishing Company, [1892]-1897. Ca. 7 3/4 x 12 1/4. Chromolithograph. Full margins with some light spotting. Very good condition.
This is a print from another Cozzens' series, Our Navy, which illustrated the American Navy just before the turn of the century. The image shows the identified with a detailed accuracy which makes this print as historically fascinating as it is attractive. $275Go to listing of other prints by Cozzens from Our Navy.